Mystery rider no longer a mystery in Concord

Henry Schwan hschwan@wickedlocal.com @henrycojo

Thursday

Oct 5, 2017 at 10:56 AMOct 5, 2017 at 11:20 AM

There’s a chance many have seen him riding through Concord on his red bicycle.

He rides shirtless and hands-free, carrying a large, red exercise ball in one hand and blowing into a trumpet with the other. Sometimes, the trumpet is replaced with a flute, or another musical instrument. Other times he’s carrying a boom box blasting music.

He has remained a mystery to many, but the secret is no more. His name is Matthew Dunkle, and he lives in West Concord.

Performance art

Dunkle, 34, can pinpoint the day his “performance art” bicycle rides started.

It was July 31, 2015, and Dunkle described that first ride as “a bit of an escape from my doom and gloom at the time.”

Dunkle’s six-year marriage had ended, his grandfather passed away and his grandmother was in a nursing home.

A casualty of his marriage was the loss of many friends. He enjoyed social outings as couples, but when his marriage crumbled, many of his friends fell away.

“I didn’t just lose a wife, I lost friends,” Dunkle said.

'Cracking at the seams'

In Dunkle’s words, his life was “cracking at the seams,” so he needed an escape. On that summer day two years ago, he put on a Santa Claus hat he had lying around, his red bathing suit and hopped on his red bike.

He also brought along a trumpet, which was a natural addition, because Dunkle has always loved music.

He has played the trumpet since he was 11, picked up the guitar at 14, and taught himself to play the clarinet that same year.

He has a degree from the Berklee College of Music, and worked for several years at Verne Q. Powell Flutes in Maynard.

Another aspect of Dunkle’s story is a diagnosis this year of bipolar disorder.

Dunkle is in the process of putting his life back together, and said he would like to continue his performance-based bike rides.

However, he’s concerned not everyone appreciates them, pointing to some reader comments on the Concord Journal Facebook page that aren’t supportive.

“I don’t want to be a nuisance,” Dunkle said.

Jury is out

It appears the jury is out on whether Dunkle will continue his bike rides.

On the one hand, Dunkle said the rides allow him to lose a sense of control that is therapeutic as he battles his demons.

On the other hand, he said he likes a cloak of anonymity, which could spell the end, or an adjustment to his rides.

He acknowledged continuing the rides are harder to do because “people talk,” but he also expressed a desire to challenge societal norms.

“I want to be transparent and open,” Dunkle said. “I don’t have a lot to hide. I want to act as an example for people struggling (with mental health issues), not to be ashamed.”